00:01So welcome to this session. My name is Shawn Simpson.

00:03I am actually the…one of the instructor technical leads for education services…

00:09…and we're starting to venture in, looking at this type of geographic information.

00:15We're going to start incorporating, or hopefully incorporating it into our courses, so it's a…

00:20…a pretty unique and pretty fantastic use.

00:27So I want to begin looking at the definition of VGI, looking at the definition of volunteered geographic information.

00:35So VGI, it stands for volunteered geographic information, and we can define it as being locational crowdsourcing.

00:45Right? So those that are in the room with me, right? How many of you…we can do a show of hands…

00:50…has heard this term, crowdsourcing? Nice. Alright, so we've got everybody in the room that has.

00:59Do I have a brave individual that would like to share with us their definition of crowdsourcing?

01:04This is an interactive session. Did they tell you guys that?

01:09[Unintelligible audience remark]

01:11I didn't think of that.

01:16Anybody want to share what their definition, how they definite crowdsourcing?

01:22Crickets huh? Alright, well, I'll go on.

01:26With crowdsourcing, it's the outsourcing of a task that's typically performed by a skilled professional…

01:34…but the outsourcing of that task to your general public, and that general public, it can range in skill levels…

01:41…from the unskilled up to it being a skilled professional. In context of volunteered geographic information…

01:49…we're talking about a specific type of crowdsourcing, and we like to refer to that as locational crowdsourcing.

01:57And with locational crowdsourcing, we're talking about the act of having citizen volunteers go out…

02:04…and acquire that geographic information. So with this locational crowdsourcing, we're essentially…

02:11…outsourcing that task of creating geographic data, removing it from a skilled GIS professional…

02:19…to our general public, or maybe an engaged group of volunteers.

02:26But it's not just that GIS professional that's tackling that task for us.

02:31And there are a lot of examples out there today that you guys, I would imagine, have come across…

02:37…have read about, have even explored on your own, and most…or the biggest examples…

02:43…you've got Wikimapia. We've got OpenStreetMap. We've got a variety of different applications with crisis mapping.

02:51And we're starting to see the emergence of these citizen request maps.

02:56Now, with Wikimapia and OpenStreetMap, it's an online, open, editable application where anyone…

03:05…can access and contribute new geographic data. So I can open up, for example, OpenStreetMap…

03:12…zoom to an area that I have knowledge about, and perhaps it's missing some street data, alright.

03:18I have the ability to actually edit that application, being an actual citizen myself…

03:24…and contribute and create that type of geographic data. Wikimapia, same thing. It's an open, editable map.

03:32And with those two examples, anybody can access, edit, add geographic data. And then on the flip side…

03:39…anybody can access and utilize that information for a specific purpose.

03:45Now, with crisis mapping, this is the situation to where a group of volunteers will purposefully pull…

03:54…all forms of geographic data, your traditional authoritative content. They'll start mapping the public conversation…

04:04…that they're going to access from social media, Twitter feeds, for example, photos that are posted to Flickr.

04:13They're also going to start crowdsourcing geographic content, asking the public to start giving them information…

04:22…that they can put on a map, and then take that map and give it to the first responders, or take that map…

04:28…and give it to relief organizations so that they have this very live and dynamic and current map…

04:36…that represents what's really going on on the ground, so they know where to send help…

04:41…so that they know where they can actually get assistance from.

04:45And then with these citizen request maps, these are applications that are allowing a local community…

04:52…to be more actively involved with their local government, to see not only what their local government is doing…

04:58…but to also utilize this application to maybe create a point feature, for example, on a map that says…

05:05…"Hey, at this location, I saw some graffiti on the side of an elementary school. I'd like to see that cleaned up."

05:11Or to add a location on a map that says, "Hey, we've got a pothole. I'd like to see some attention to it."

05:19But to give them an easier environment to communicate and interact with that local government.

05:26Now, we just defined VGI a second ago. Tried to get you guys to help me; you resisted.

05:32So I defined VGI a second ago as being that outsourcing of creating geographic data…

05:40…moving it from having GIS professionals do it…

05:44…to asking the public to contribute that type of information, to help contribute and create geographic data.

05:51Hopefully, you hear that and you think about the possibilities and that's intriguing to you….

05:56…because there are a lot of uses for volunteered geographic information. And I've got three up here on this slide.

06:04First, volunteered geographic information, it can be a source of geographic data during crises and emergencies.

06:12Volunteered geographic information, it can be a cost-effective source of geographic data.

06:20Those organizations that are affected by a budget constraint but need geographic information…

06:26…they can't afford GIS professionals, they can't afford the equipment that might be needed to create this type of data.

06:34But you can ask the public to help you out, so it can be a cost-effective source of geographic data.

06:40And then third, volunteered geographic information, it can be used as a source of geographic data because it's timely.

06:47Alright, it's a live, dynamic snapshot of what's really occurring in a given area of interest.

06:55Now, if we look at these three examples or these three uses in more details in regards to utilizing it as a source of geographic data…

07:07…with crises and emergencies, I think the best example is to talk about Ushahidi, alright?

07:13Show of hands. Who's heard of Ushahidi? Alright, it's about half and half. Alright, so those that are unfamiliar…

07:19…Ushahidi, you can think of as a social network of crisis mappers. It's a platform that anybody could set up during a crisis…

07:29…or during a given emergency, and utilize this platform or work with this collection of crisis mapper volunteers…

07:40…to start asking the public to crowdsource and give you geographic data, to start scouring social media outlets…

07:48…looking at Twitter feeds, for example. Ushahidi even sets up resources allowing people to send in text messages…

07:56…to send in e-mails. But they're really taking in all of these different forms and sources of geographic data…

08:05…so that they can create a very live snapshot, have a map that gives you a very live, dynamic, current state of what's going on…

08:14…on the ground. Take this map. You give it to the first responder. If you take that map, you give it to the relief organizations…

08:21…and you now have, like I said, that very live, dynamic look in terms of what's going on on the ground.

08:26They can use that map, use that platform to know who needs help, and to know what locations actually have assistance…

08:35…that they can provide to bring that community together.

08:40The, I think the biggest example of Ushahidi in action is with the earthquake in Haiti in 2010.

08:49With that earthquake, Ushahidi came together, they brought together their collection of crisis mappers…

08:57…and they set up a Ushahidi platform. And with that platform, in relation to that very specific emergency…

09:05…they had volunteers that were scouring Twitter, looking for those Tweets that were saying…

09:11…"Hey, I need help" or "Hey, I've got supplies" or "Hey, I can provide assistance."

09:15And they're filtering it and they're mapping it.

09:18They also set up resources to where users…excuse me…to where a community could send in text messages.

09:26Again, "I need help; I'm at this location" or "I'm at this location; I can provide these supplies. I can provide this assistance."

09:34They even set it up via e-mail so that people could send e-mails in, but they're bringing together all of this content…

09:41…to create that map for first responders. And then in addition, there was another level of complexity to this, this whole…

09:48…let's get all of this information to our first responders so they know what to do; they can hit the ground running.

09:53And that was lack of street detail. There's no street data for Port-au-Prince and Haiti.

10:00So they crowdsourced that type of detail, and they asked the public to hit OpenStreetMap and to utilize their knowledge…

10:09…to build that street data that the first responders and relief organizations actually needed in order to send out the supplies…

10:18…to send out the help. I actually have a video clip I'm going to show you. It's…I think it does a really good job…

10:27…of giving that visual, at the impact that crowdsourcing can have when you ask that engaged public…

10:35…to help you out in the event of this…of a given crisis or a given emergency.

10:42I'll go ahead and click that link. I'm going to full screen it, I'm going to play it, and I'm going to be quiet.

10:52Alright, so you see this timeline at the bottom? And the earthquake.

11:21It's pretty fantastic, right?

11:23[Unintelligible audience question]

11:26That was the effect of crowdsourcing. You know, the earthquake happened, the call went out, and everybody's getting online.

11:35They're accessing OpenStreetMap, and they're adding geographic data. They're creating geographic data.

11:41So that's that street network that's being built by the public at large. And because of crowdsourcing, this little FYI…

11:49…Port-au-Prince now has the most detailed and complete street network available than any other location.

11:57Third-world country. The most complete and detailed street network for a third-world country.

12:04It's a pretty good example of the power of volunteered geographic information in regards to crises and emergencies.

12:12And then a couple of quotes that I like to point out. Again, they're thought provoking, just to get you thinking.

12:19A couple of personnel from FEMA talking about the user, looking at the use of VGI for emergencies. They refer to the public…

12:29…the active crowdsourcing geographic data, as the public being your first first responders.

12:36I think just that term alone paints a pretty good picture.

12:38And then Dr. Goodchild talking about volunteered geographic information and its impact and its applicability…

12:47…to helping during an emergency, you know, knowing that we have seven billion intelligent observers on the planet…

12:54…taking advantage of all of these people that can contribute and help out.

13:00Now in regards to that second use case, alright. Volunteered geographic information being a cost-effective source…

13:08…of geographic data. Best example? We get the Public Information Center.

13:15Alright, it's a web mapping application template that you can access through the local template galleries.

13:23I'm going to go ahead and click the link. Let's take a look at it. And the Public Information Center template…

13:29…this application, this sample, local communities can implement, and it's going to provide their citizens the ability…

13:39…to interact with local government, to have an easier environment to interact with local government.

13:45And you can also utilize this, this sample or this type of an application, to allow your citizens to submit service requests.

13:54You know, I've got a pothole that needs attention to, or we've got a tree down, blocking the street. It needs attention to.

14:00Alright, so before we actually look at this, I do want to go ahead and at least point out where you all can access…

14:06…this template. So if we hit the Resources, the ArcGIS Resource Center, so resources.arcgis.com…

14:14…this sample is within the Local Government Resource Center. So under User Communities…

14:21…I'm going to click the link for local government…

14:24…and then over along the left side, you've got the Local Government Gallery. We'll get into the Local Government Gallery.

14:37We'll let that load. Alright, and then again, along the left side, if you want to filter it, you go click, click, click…

14:46…Infrastructure, and then you should see down at the bottom, you have the Public Info Center for 10.

14:53So that sample the application that you guys can access, download, explore, configure, utilize.

15:00And if we, real quickly, just view the live application. Alright.

15:06So it's an avenue where, you know, citizens, local community members can access a map for their community…

15:13…see information in terms of what's going on. They could access the tabbed request service, click a location in the map…

15:22…attribute that location, even provide an image, alright? Giving information back to their local officials.

15:29"Hey, I need or I want to see this assistance performed in this specific location."

15:34And this template's even equipped to pull in social media content…

15:39…so that you can see that public conversation that's occurring in your local community.

15:44A pretty cool little sample that you could take advantage of. Another example in terms of volunteered geographic information…

15:52…being a cost-effective source. Imagine that you work for a conservation society. Budget's not terribly large.

16:01And you need geographic data in your database to do a variety of studies for whatever the reason.

16:07But actually creating that data, acquiring that data, you don't have the budget for it. But you've got a group of engaged volunteers…

16:15…that understand your mission; they understand your wants, your needs.

16:20Could very easily build a sample application. Send them out into the field with their iPhone, for example…

16:26…or their smartphones, for example, and ask them to visit your protected areas and start collecting geographic data that identifies…

16:35…wildlife, vegetation - you know, any aspect of that protected area or any area of interest that you want mapped.

16:44Alright, it's a very viable means to create geographic data.

16:50Third example, alright, volunteered geographic information that can be used as a source of geographic data because it's timely.

16:57And I actually got this example when I was talking with a colleague. He used to work for an organization…

17:04…I'm going to leave it nameless…

17:06…but he would get calls in, asking for certain geographic datasets for certain areas within the world.

17:14And they either had it or they didn't. And depending on the nature of the project, it might require current…

17:22…we want to know exactly how things look on the ground at this given time.

17:28Alright, well, when you have that type of request, you have to ask yourself, alright, well…

17:34…we know how long it takes to create authoritative, traditional geographic data, right?

17:41And think about knowing how long it takes to actually create this product that can be utilized, a traditional product that can be utilized.

17:48Think about how out of date your authoritative data can be. I'm not saying it always is, but how out of date it can be…

17:56…when it first hits the shelf. And then compare those thoughts to your immediate need for current geographic data.

18:04Alright, that might be a situation to where you might want to crowdsource.

18:09Can you crowdsource and ask the public to create that data for you?

18:15Now, I've thrown around some terms. We've defined volunteered geographic information already. I've also talked about social media.

18:22And I've thrown around the terms authoritative content, alright? So I want to make sure that we define each…

18:28…in case anybody's sitting there, thinking, "Well, what does she really mean by authoritative content?"

18:33But with volunteered geographic information, just to revisit that definition, alright…

18:38…we're talking about outsourcing the task of creating geographic data, moving it from your skilled GIS professional…

18:45…asking the public to do it. With social media, in terms of mapping social media-type content…

18:54…we're turning that public conversation into geographic data. Alright, pulling Twitter feeds onto a map.

19:03Taking pictures that individuals post on Flickr, putting those on the map. Taking videos that individuals post on YouTube…

19:10…putting them on the map. Mapping the public conversation…

19:14…getting that extra dimension in terms of what's going on in a given area of interest. And with authoritative content…

19:22…that's our traditional geographic data that's generated, created, maintained by GIS professionals, alright?

19:29Now, what I want you to do is imagine the power of using all of them together, one map that has social media data…

19:36…has volunteered geographic information, and then your authoritative content.

19:40If you use the authoritative content as your basemap, alright?

19:45They…they'll work really nice together to give you this very live, dynamic, powerful visual on what's going on…

19:54…on the ground, whether it's during a crisis, an emergency, or it's just one of a, you know, a…

20:00…a community map, right, you just want to stay abreast in terms of what's going on in your community.

20:05You want an easier environment in terms of telling your local officials what you would like to see happen…

20:11…or what kind of services you would like to have performed. Or, if it's a situation to where you work for one of those agencies…

20:18…or organization, and your budget just won't support you creating authoritative content through GIS professionals…

20:26…and your traditional tools. And looking at this avenue of working with volunteered geographic information…

20:34…putting all of that together, it's a very powerful end result. And what they also do, especially when you mash…

20:40…volunteered geographic information together with authoritative content, they do a really good job at vetting each other.

20:48A lot of the time when you start talking about volunteered geographic information, people start saying…

20:54…Well, what about accuracy? You know, when you compare it to, say, your authoritative data…

20:58…you know, where does this level of accuracy fit in? Can I trust the content that the public's going to create for me?

21:07Is it true? Is it honest? Is it quality input? Well, if you can mash it with some authoritative data…

21:14…they're going to vet each other, so you will have at least that level of support so that you can visually see…

21:19…Okay, yeah, you know, I can see what's coming from the public is quality data, data that can be used.

21:27And then you've got a variety of other concerns and questions. You know, can this method replace my existing workflow?

21:33Alright? If it's cost-effective, great. Can I use it across the board? Can it be trusted? Is the method dependable?

21:42When we start evaluating these common questions, these common concerns, some things that we've learned…

21:48…some things that others have learned, in regards to data accuracy, alright, you can actually pull two laws into place.

21:56Linus's Law, Tobler's Law. With Linus's Law, it's this idea that the more people you have involved…

22:04…and the more engaged your community is in this project, the more apt you are to actually quickly identify…

22:11…and eliminate any error that might be in that map, right? Thinking back to Dr. Goodchild's quote that I posted earlier…

22:18…we have seven billion intelligent observers on this planet, right? Well, if we've got one of those intelligent observers…

22:26…mistakenly add a feature or create geographic data that's wrong, somebody else is probably going to catch it.

22:33With Tobler's Law, it's this idea that things that are closer are more related than things that are farther apart…

22:39…we can apply this when we start really working with volunteered geographic information…

22:45…social media, et cetera, especially along the lines of working with, say, social media.

22:51If I'm creating a map and I'm pulling in, say, Twitter feeds, and I'm…or I'm creating a map and I'm pulling in Flickr photos…

22:56…or YouTube videos. Alright, if I really start evaluating how I pull this information in, I'll learn that I've got control…

23:06…or some control over the content put in my map. I can control the actual location I'm requesting Tweets for.

23:09I can control the actual location and even time frame that I'm requesting, say, Flickr photos for.

23:20Alright, really working with the tools that I have available, and recognizing the different constraints and theories…

23:28…and law that already exist and really seeing how I can creatively control all of this information…

23:35…so that I can try to eliminate some of my concerns. In regards to can I trust it to be true, honest, quality input…

23:44…I've got a couple lessons learned, and I'm just going to list them, and I'm going to not go into great detail…

23:49…'cause this is the subject of the next presentation. But there's filtering mechanisms that we can work with.

23:56Community policing that you can incorporate into your sites. Like I said, next session.

24:00And then, can this method replace my existing workflow? Can it be trusted? Is it dependable?

24:03I know everybody's like, ooh, that sounds interesting! Right, next session. We're not going to leave you hanging on that.

24:17When you start to evaluate these questions, we really need to think about what we know about geographic data.

24:24Alright, you have to think about the nature of geographic data in general, alright?

24:29Geographic datasets can be created from a variety of different sources. I can go from a table of addresses to a point feature class.

24:37I can go from a table of x,y coordinates to point data. I can take GPS units out into the field, and everybody has…

24:43…or each method has its different level of accuracy, and without VGI, you know, when you start evaluating…

24:51…geographic data against the requirements of your project, right, well, it's just that.

24:58You've got various requirements for your projects, standards and what have you. And you look at those…

25:04…and you utilize those to choose the type of geographic data that you're going to try to acquire or create…

25:11…so that it matches the requirements of your project. Same thing if you start thinking about volunteered geographic information.

25:19It's a source of geographic data. Does it suit the requirements and needs of your project? Does it suit what you have to work with?

25:30And then, you know, wrapping things up, there's a really good blog posting that you can access from the ArcGIS Server blog…

25:41…and it had a really good couple of sentences that I think do a really good job at summing all of this information up.

25:49That the primary thing that you can take away from this presentation or any study or research that you do on the use of VGI…

25:56…but the primary thing that can be taken away is that VGI can be helpful to those responding to disasters…

26:03…or even just looking for a cheap way to gather accurate data. It is a source of geographic data, just like…

26:10…anything else is a source of geographic data. And that VGI can be especially useful if you can get the community involved…

26:19…in something that they're passionate about, and leverage the increasing computing power they have in their homes…

26:26…their offices, and their pockets.

26:31It's a nice little thought as we move from this session to the next. Okay, and that's all that I have for this session.

26:37So just a friendly reminder, we've got all of the session evaluations online. I do encourage questions, and I welcome questions…

26:45….but we do have a session that's immediately following, and if you're interested in this topic…

26:50…you're going to be interested in the topic to follow. So I would encourage you guys to hang around, talking about…

26:56…is it, it's community policing, and then the filtering mechanisms…

27:00…and working with social media and volunteered geographic information.

27:03[Unintelligible]

27:04And then the one following that is Analyzing. Yep.

27:11[Unintelligible]

27:15You guys have questions…

27:16We could do that.